Suspenders



Oct. 22, 1946.

E. S TEMPEL 2,409,310

SUSPENDERS 7 Filed Feb. 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: Ezra/42p STL-QMPEL By V gram/es:

E. STEMPEL SUSPENDERS Filed Feb. 1. 1946 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. TEMPEZ.

EDk/AQD HTI'OEA/EK Patented Oct. 22, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUSPENDERS Edward Stempel, Los Angeles, Calif. Application February 1, 1946, SerialNo. 644,865

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to suspenders and more particularly to a temporary and convenient hitching means associated therewith.

Most suspenders are provided with a buckle or other fastener by means of which the straps on the suspenders may be permanently adjusted to any desired length. My invention contemplates the addition of a temporary adjusting means whereby the length of the straps of the suspenders may be altered without affecting the customary permanent buckl adjustment. It is a common difficulty with suspenders of conventional construction that they must be loosened from their connection to a pair of trousers or increased in length in some other inconvenient manner such as by stretching them or loosening the permanent buckle adjustment in order to slip them over the wearers shoulders.

Various means have been employed to overcome the inconvenience associated with the donning and doffing of suspenders and the lengthening of them when desired. In some cases the suspenders have been provided with elastic straps which may be stretched over the shoulders but this has not proved entirely satisfactory. The 1 elastic materials of which the straps are made readily lose their elasticity so that thestraps become elongated and require frequent readjustment for length. In addition, even when the straps retain their elasticity there is a tendency 1 for the trousers to creep downwardly againstthe tension of the'straps. Should the wearer seek to avoid this creeping tendency, he generally succeeds in achieving only an uncomfortable tautness.

Suspenders made of straps comprising nonelastic material have the advantage of retaining an adjustment which is once made and are generally provided with a section having a degree of elasticity sufficient to afford freedom of movement of the wearer. It is particularly upon suspenders of this character that my invention is most useful. When constructed in accordance with my invention, suspenders may be worn under upper garments such as a coat, being readily lengthened without removal of the coat. if the wearer desires to adjust a shirt worn under the suspenders, he need not remove the coat or unfasten. the back strap in order to lower his trousers for adjustment of his shirt-tails or for any other purpose.

For these and other reasons which will readily occur to one who has worn suspenders or who is skilled in the art of their construction, I have invented a new and improved suspender which overcomes many of the difficulties and inconveniences normally associated with suspenders 0 conventional design.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved suspender construction by which suspenders may be readily and simply lengthened for removal of suspended garments or hitched up in their normal position for wear.

It is another object of my invention to provide a substantially non-elastic suspender of improved construction which may be temporarily lengthened or selectively shortened without disturbing the established length adjustment thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide suspenders having a cooperating but separate adjustment and hitching means. i

A still further object of my invention is to provide suspenders having combined length adjusting and hitching means by which the suspender straps may be lengthened and positively adjusted to an established length independent of the adjusting means.

Another further object of my invention is to provide suspenders the straps of which are made of substantially nonelastic material and which may be quickly and conveniently placed over or removed from the shoulder of the wearer.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a suspender which may be readily lengthened for lowering a suspended garment without removing a top garment worn thereover.

This invention also has for an object the elimination of the disadvantages in connection with prior art devices of this general character.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the depanying drawings.

vice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accom- In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of suspenders embodyingmy invention, positioned as for wearing on the body of a man.

Figure 2 is a front View of a pair of suspenders embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view. of the strap connection andhitch.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a modified'form of suspender embodying my invention. l

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I

show a pair of suspenders designated generally by the numeral If! comprising a pair of front straps l2 a pair of shoulder straps l3 and a back strap I4. A strap connector l6 and a complementary strap hitch ll are associated with the adjacent ends of each of the shoulder straps and front straps respectively. Suitable trouser straps l8 and M are provided at the lower extremity of the front straps respectively and also at the lower end of the back strap.

The trouser straps'l8 and I9 may be formed with a doubled or reinforced slidable central portion and flattened end portions 22 formed with suitable buttonholes 23.

The back strap l4 may be formed at its lower end with any suitable reinforcing structure adapted to slidably carry the garment attaching means. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, this structure comprises a reinforced terminal sling 25 which may be secured to the lower portion of the back. strap by stitching or other suitable means; At its upper end the back strap may be stitched to one or more reinforcing pieces 23 preferably applied to both sides, to which the shoulder straps may be similarly stitched or otherwise secured;

The shoulder straps. are formed at their front ends with suitable loops 21 passing through an upper eye 28 formed in the strap connector It. The eye: may have a long narrow aperture adaptedto receive the shoulder strap and hold it fiat. These shoulder straps are extensible throughout said upper eye: when it is: desired to adjust their lengths by means of the buckles 2t of a conventional sort.

The strap connector is further provided with a lower eye 29 spaced from but similar to the upper eye and. in addition, carries preferably on its lower portion, a. stud 35. A slotted fastener 31: is formed with a: vertical slot 32 communicating with an enlarged opening. 33'. The slot 32 is adapted to be releasably secured to the stud 30. Fastener 3ft may be formed with an: elongated fastener eye13'4 similar to the upper and lower eyes'28 and. 29.

The front straps are secured at one end 35 to the strap connector and to the slotted fastener atits'otherend'itg Thi'sjoinder toth'e strap connector may be accomplished by passing said one end 35 through the upper eye and thence downwardly and through the lower. eye. The said end is thusdoubled back upon itself and may be reinforced and secured in: place by means of suitable stitching or in anyiother desired manner;

The other end of the front straps may be passed loosely through a suitable eyelet 3'9; thence through the fastener eye 34, thence forwardly and upwardly through the enlarged opening 33 and back through the fastener eye. Tension upon the front strap causes it to bind upon itself. If

desired, stitching or the like may be utilized to,

insure against possibility of slippage of the strap from the slotted fastener.

The garment" straps may be adjustably secured to the lower endsOf the front straps l2 by means of. suitable loops 4!! fashioned. from leather, plastic or equivalent: fabric loosely engaging through the eyelet 39;

In the use of my improved suspenders, the trouser straps are secured upon the buttons customarily provided for such purpose. Theslotted fasteners are next disengaged from: the stud 30 thereby releasing the front straps to a temporary greater length whereby the shoulder straps are more readily placed: Over; the shoulders ofthe Cit wearer. When the straps are in place the slotted fastener is pulled over the stud thereby tightening the suspenders over the shoulders.

The suspender straps are next adjusted to a comfortable length by means of the buckles 2| which are slidable back and forth upon the shoulder straps for this purpose,

To remove thesuspenders, or for the purpose of lowering the trousers, the slotted fastener is easily and quickly disengaged fromv thestud 3i! releasing the front straps and permitting them to be lengthened as desired.

A modified form of my invention as illustrated in Figure 5 which comprises a strap connector l6 formed with an upper eye 28 through which a shoulder strap I3 is slidably inserted and a lower eye, 29- through which a front strap I2 is inserted and provided preferably at its lower end with one-half of a snap fastener 58. The end 35 0f the front strap may be affixed to the strap connecting means in-the same manner asthatdescribed andillustrated for the preferred embodiment of my invention but said front strapcarries a. complementary half 5i of said snap fastener at the opposite" end from the strapconnecting means in lieu of the slotted fastener.

It will be understood that suspenders incorporating my' invention may be made of either elastic or non-elastic material. Preferably they will. includenon-elastic straps which may; be made of cloth, leather, plastic or other customary fabric. The reinforcing portions25, 26 and also 40 are preferably made of leather although any material other than leather may be employed, such for example, cloth, plastic, wire mesh and likematerials. The trouser straps orback straps may be 7 the suspenders to the article of clothing desired.

The buckles, connecting means, hitching means, eyelets, and the like may be formed of any'hard material such as plastics or the like. Likewise, the hitching means might consist of a button, hook, tie or equivalent mechanism in place of the means illustrated. 7

While I. haveherein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made. therefrom within the scope of my invention, which: is not to be" limited to the detailsdisclosed' herein but is to' be accorded the full'scope of the claims so as? to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder strap members, a garment attaching means for each and a second strap memberintermediate each of the shoulderstrap members and garment attaching means, said shoulder. strap members each comprising a loop of adjustable length and said second strap members each comprising an individual strap forminga loop offixedlength, the lower end of each said last loop having a sliding engagement with therespective. garment. attaching means, an element one-no". end ofreach second: individual: strap having an engagement with the lower end of the respective shoulder strap, and a fastener comprising one part adjacent one end of the second strap and another part adjacent the other end of the second strap having a releasable engagement with the first part.

2. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder strap members, a garment attaching means for each and a second strap member intermediate each of the first strap members and garment attaching means, said shoulder strap member comprising a loop of adjustable length, said second strap member comprising an individual strap forming a loop of fixed length, the lower end of said last loop having a sliding engagement with the respective garment attaching means, an element on one end of the second individual strap having a sliding engagement with the lower end of the first loop, and a fastener comprising one part adjacent one end of the second strap and another part adjacent the other end of the second strap having a releasable engagement with the first part.

3. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder strap members, a garment attaching means for each and a second strap member intermediate each of the first strap members and garment attaching means, said shoulder strap member comprising a loop of adjustable length, said second strap member comprising an individual strap forming a loop of fixed length, the lower end of said last loop having a sliding engagement with the respective garment attaching means, an element on one end of the second individual strap having a sliding engagement with the lower end of the first loop, and a. fastener comprising one part adjacent one end of the second strap and another part adjacent the other end of the second strap having a releasable engagement with the first part and having a size incapable of complete release from sliding engagement with the garment attaching means, said other part having a length adjusting attachment to said other end of the second strap.

4. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder strap members, a garment attaching means for each and a second strap member intermediate each of the first strap members and garment attaching means, said shoulder strap member comprising an individual strap having a length adjusting fastener at one end thereof adjustably engaging the strap at a location remote from the end forming a loop, said second strap member comprising an individual strap forming a loop of fixed length, the lower end of said last loop having a sliding engagement with the respective garment attaching means, an element on one end of the second individual strap having a sliding engagement with the lower end of the first loop, and a fastener comprising one part at said one end of the second strap incorporated in said element and another part at the other end of the second strap having a releasable engagement with the first part and having a size incapable of complete release from sliding engagement with the garment attaching means, said other part having a length adjusting attachment to said other end of the second strap.

EDWARD STEMPEL. 

